This has been a very busy term for the Music Department!
The entire school was involved in the Harvest Festival where traditional hymns were replaced by songs about mutant
vegetables and frustrated farmers. The boys worked well with some very demanding repertoire; at one point the whole of
years 3 to 6 were in four-part harmony.
The instrumentalists have been working hard in the many ensembles in school and I would like to take the opportunity to
thank Miss Sheldon, Mr King, Mr Price and Mr Crowther for their work in developing their groups. The Orchestra has taken a
big leap forward since September and recently gave a performance to their parents, sharing some festive favourites as well
as the theme music to Wallace and Grommit and Match of the Day.
As this year is the Centenary of the start of World War 1, the boys took particular care with their marking of Armistice Day.
The year 6 boys performed an arrangement of some popular war time songs, but with a suitably melancholic undertone
and the whole of Malborough Road performed the hymn “My Song is Love Unknown” by the Bowdon born composer John
Ireland.
We were treated to some wonderful singing by the Choristers of Manchester Cathedral. It was interesting to witness an en-
tirely different culture of music making, but even more so to see how our boys rivalled the choristers in terms of working as
a choir.
Senior Choir were entered in to a competition which was
being run by the Chester Radio station Dee 106.3 and we
were very excited to hear that we had been awarded
‘First Runner Up’ . Claire, from the radio station came in
to school last week and presented the boys with a cup
and a certificate.
The Senior Choir also took part in the “Sing for
Christmas” concert at Manchester Cathedral; their per-
formance prompted many positive comments from mem-
bers of the audience, emails to the school and (he says
smugly) a glowing report from an overheard conversation
on the tram ride home.
Bringing the term to a
conclusion was the wonderful Carol Service at St Mary’s last Friday. The boys’ singing
was very special; I must point out Sam, Y6, who sang the first verse of ‘Away in the Man-
ger’ as a solo, as well as Anay, Jack and Tyler who together sang the first verse of ‘Little
Donkey’; it takes a great deal of courage to stand in front of the whole school as they did
and they all performed extremely well. I must also thank Miss Goss and Miss Sheldon for
joining the boys in their performance; having these polished musicians working with us is
a real pleasure.
MUSIC
